THR Finally on the other side

[Hippie Chick]

I am a teacher- think of having 20 little customers that want and need your attention. Then when they get tired, fresh reinforcements come in. Each grade level has a different lesson. I have been looking around the house and even online, but I can’t seem to find where I put my energy. I cannot begin to think about being fully back to work, even remotely the first few weeks of recovery.

 

[Layla]

Happy Three Month Anniversary, Esmeralda!
I hope you have a nice weekend. I can't believe we're already entering Christmas month tomorrow.
The New year should be a good one for you!
@Esmeralda

 

[Esmeralda]

Thank you @Layla

These last 3 months have passed slowly and I have needed to adjust my expectations accordingly. This recovery has definitely been a balancing act between what I want to be able to do and what I'm physically able to do but things are definitely moving in the right direction.

On a positive note, I can't remember the last time I needed to take any pain relief and I'm feeling that I'm getting stronger with every week that goes by. However, I definitely haven't been completely ache free, every day I have some sort of low level ache/stiffness but then every day I'm out walking for approximately an hour, averaging 1.5 miles. I still use one crutch when I'm out and about but not indoors. I sometimes feel that I don't really need to use my crutch at all but my operated side still gets tired quite quickly and then I get quite clumsy and I worried that that is when I might lose my balance and fall. Also I always have to walk uphill to return home and that would be very hard to do without a crutch at the moment.

On the not so positive side of things, I still have a problem with my gait and I feel that I dip on my operated side when I walk unless I walk really, really slowly taking tiny pidgeon steps. I feel this is due to my leg on my operated side being slightly shorter although when I look in the mirror my knees seem pretty level but when I wear my pre-op trousers the hem now hangs longer on my operated leg when both hems would have be level before. When I went into this op my biggest worry was that afterwards I would have LLD and still have a limp and unfortunately that worry hasn't gone away.

I have read the resources on this forum about LLD but it seems that most feel that their operated leg is longer not shorter, and I'm not sure what the next step would be for me to get a definite answer on this as I would rather know if I have a problem or not. What steps have others taken to resolve this possible issue ?

 

[benne68]

things are definitely moving in the right direction.

So great to read this! It is a slow recovery for many of us. Like you, my expectations were out of sync with my reality. But it does continue to improve with time.

I still have a problem with my gait and I feel that I dip on my operated side when I walk unless I walk really, really slowly

Have you tried heel-toe walking when you notice that you are limping?

This involves striking the ground with your heel first, then rolling through your heel to your toe, and pushing out of the step with your toe.

Here is a visual

I had to slow down my pace and really concentrate to get this right. But, after a couple of weeks of practice, it became natural and I noticed a big improvement in my gait.

 

[Clairebella]

@Esmeralda glad to hear that recovery is slowly but surely progressing for you. My pain is better also but also like you I am not ache free!

Regarding your leg length - can you get in touch with the surgeons secretary and see if you can discuss your concerns and have a review?

 

[Layla]

Thanks for the update, Esmeralda. Great to read of the progress you've made.
As far as Leg Length Differential goes, you're not alone, many feel this sensation post op. In most cases it eases with time. We advise giving it 3-4 months as it can take that amount of time for things to balance. If at that point, you are still concerned we suggest you visit a reputable podiatrist or PT for a measurement.
Here's an article from our Library Leg length differential - LLD.
I hope you're able to get some reassurance in regard to your concerns. Please stay in touch.
@Esmeralda

 

[Esmeralda]

Thank you @benne68, when I first started walking around the house without a crutch and noticed how bad I was dipping on my operated side, I started practising heel to toe walking and it definitely helped as I don't dip so far now if that makes sense ? I also try to use that technique when out walking with one crutch and can frequently be heard muttering heel toe as I'm walking along the road

 

[Esmeralda]

I'm glad to hear your pain is subsiding @Clairebella, it has been a long time for you.

I think if things don't improve I will eventually contact the surgeon but being private I will have to pay for the visit and any x-rays needed and I have got the impression (prehaps falsely) that he wouldn't be very interested anyway as LLD is one of the listed complications of this surgery. To be fair I don't seem to have a massive difference in LLD, but I would like to know if what I'm feeling and seeing is a real difference or caused by tight muscles or something like a pelvic tilt.

 

[Mojo333]

@Esmeralda

I was told by PT at 2 1/2 mos that one of my legs was a bit shorter...

But it was deemed to be due to tight hip flexors and an anterior pelvic tilt.
Lots of sitting and resting early days, which is on itself important, does often lead to tight hip flexors.

The exercises I found most helpful but done very gently and not in excessive repetition, were pelvic tilts when lying in bed engaging glutes...And another very gentle stretch: lying with my behind at very edge of bed, I would let affected leg hang off the side and slowly lower towards the ground until a mild/moderate stretch is felt in the front part of the thigh/hip.

When I felt that this was loosening up, a week or so later I would do this exercise and at the same time, grab opposite knee and pull it gently towards my chest to increase the stretch.

All needs to be done in a slow, controlled, mindful manner.
I hope things improve and love to hear how it is going.

 

[Esmeralda]

Thank you for this helpful information @Mojo333, could I just ask if you could describe how you do the pelvic tilts exercises when laying in bed ?

 

[Mojo333]

A PT would probably suggest using on yoga mat on floor for firmness as you need to flatten your back... but I had both hips done at once so getting down and up off the floor took some more months...
so... I did them on my firm bed.

Lie on your back (on the floor or bed) with your knees bent. Flatten your back against the floor by tightening your abdominal muscles and engaging glutes and bending your pelvis up slightly. Hold for up to 10 seconds. Repeat.

 

[Mojo333]

Supine Hip Flexor Stretch:

1. Lie on your back on the edge of your bed with both legs extended on the bed.edge
2. Bend your unaffected, with your knee pointing toward the ceiling and your foot flat on the bed. Make sure your back is pressed flat against the bed.
3. Let your affected side Ieg slowly lower over the side of the bed, keeping your back flat.
4. Bend your knee back as far as you comfortably can, keeping your back flat and leg hanging off the bed.
5. For an even deeper stretch, grab your left knee and pull it toward your chest.

 

[Mojo333]

My foot didn't touch the floor like the above pic... letting gravity gently pull my upper leg/groin
Make sure you feel good about this and don't overdo.
It was a good "before I got up" Stretch when I was about 8-10 weeks

 

[Esmeralda]

Thank you so much @Mojo333 for taking the time to detail the above exercises, I will definitely give them a go. I must admit I haven't tried to get down on the floor yet, so I will be doing the first exercise on the bed too !

 

[myglasshalffull]

Regarding leg length, do you have a good shoe store (orthotic type) near you?
Here we have "Good Feet" store where they measure you and if leg length discrepancy you can buy orthotic insert for your shoes. It's very expensive but worth it if it helps you walk properly.
I had same feeling in beginning.

 

[Esmeralda]

Thank you for your reply @myglasshalffull, unfortunately I don't have any shoe shops near me, good or otherwise, and your post has made me realise how much I have to order online now as we have nothing local - here in the UK, we have a real problem of local shops/High Streets gradually disappearing which is such a shame. I think my best bet of finding a specialist shoe shop will be in London and if I can't find a podiatrist/PT locally that can help explain my gait problems, that will be something I will investigate in the New Year.

 

[Gloucestergal65]

@Esmeralda - also in the UK. There is a Podiatry service at our local hospital (maybe at yours too) although I’m not sure how long it would take to get an appointment. I googled Podiatrists locally and was surprised to find several near me - I used one for getting my toenails cut early on. Regarding gait and leg length and limping, she said it was important to wait until the swelling had gone down before investigating custom made orthotics. Not sure if she recommended shoes but my chiropractor recommended ASIICS and Vionics as having good support and through googling I discovered these are both available in shops near me. Not sure if this is helpful, but good luck and I sympathise.

 

[Esmeralda]

@Gloucestergal65 That's helpful to know re waiting until the swelling goes down, as I still have some swelling at 14 weeks but it is slowly decreasing. I also googled podiatrists yesterday and found one very local to me that specialises in diagnosing gait problems and will also make up any othotics if needed - at a price - luckily I was sitting down when the receptionist told me the cost ! I did make an appointment for the first week in January but I think I might push that back a bit to make sure that the swelling has completely disappeared and the extra time will allow me to give the exercises that @Mojo333 mentioned a chance to work.

 

[Clairebella]

Can I ask what do the pelvic tilt exercises do/help with???

 

[mature mama]

Can I ask what do the pelvic tilt exercises do/help with???

Strengthen your gluten maximus (butt) and quadriceps (thighs) along with others that surround your hip joints.